This site is being developed to describe two "table top" RPG systems designed using a similar character creation system:

d10 SPECIAL, designed for story-based RPGing, where actions are arbitrated, but where "realism" isn't key.

d20 SPECIAL, a more involved and complex system comparable to Dungeons and Dragons.

The goal is to create a true "open" Tabletop RPG system, where the "core" rules can be gotten for free. Unlike licensing systems, such as the D20 system from Wizards of the Coast, where you develop supplemental material, but must reference the core rulebooks.

This site will also eventually host a few "Expanded Universe" game systems that go beyond the two systems described above. These "Expanded" systems include classes, skills, perks, etc that expand a dry die-powered arbitration system into a playable game with a universe.

Creating your own SPECIAL game

The goal is to create a free and open gaming system that anyone can use.

You have two options available to you. You can…

Reference the System Documents on this site. Be aware that the documents on this site are in a state of flux, as the games are playtested and rules are tweaked.

Copy the System Documents on this site into your Sourcebook. This is recommended, as you (1) codify the rules exactly as you want them to exist, without worrying that we'll modify them behind your back and disrupt your game's balance, and (2) you can make any changes to the System Documents necessary to make your game "tick."

Be aware of the site license:

If you release a game as a Creative Commons game, you're welcome to use any and all content in the d10 SPECIAL and d20 SPECIAL System Documents verbatim (although we recommend that you modify the text to fit within your game's universe) for free. That's the point of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License. However, you MUST reference this site by URL in the same area where you post your own Copyright notice (on pages where content is copied).

If you release a game and wish to use a different license, or wish to sell the game using d10 SPECIAL or d20 SPECIAL system as a basis, please contact us. We'd be interested in giving you expanded rights to our System Documents in exchange for "a piece of the action." It helps support these pages.